Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Union Letter Produces a ‘Hanging Curveball’

March 20, 2007 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

While forcing myself through Paul J. Phillips’ Feb. 28, 2007, letter to the editor, I nearly fell out of my chair when I got to this unwitting invitation for ridicule, wherein he asks: “Why is it that no one explains why a teacher, forcibly assigned to a school he or she did not want, will suddenly bring fabulous results?” Does anyone else see it—that hanging curveball waiting to be knocked out of the park? Just substitute the word “student” for “teacher.”

I’ll bet Mr. Phillips, the local union president, would like to take that one back. Besides the obvious benefit of choosing one’s school, there is deeper meaning to his statement in that he was oblivious to the double standard. His consideration of students’ needs ranks so far below that of the teachers he represents that they never entered his mind. Or does he actually believe that some people are more equal than others? Doesn’t anyone read Animal Farm anymore?

David Crawmer

North Greenbush, N.Y.

Related Tags:
Opinion

A version of this article appeared in the March 21, 2007 edition of Education Week as Union Letter Produces A ‘Hanging Curveball’

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz News Quiz: Feb. 6, 2025: Reading Scores | Curriculum | Trump 'Indoctrination' Order | and More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of books on a shelf.
Illustration by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read